Portable batting cage and method of assembling same

Abstract

An elongated, portable cage is constructed from a plurality of arcuately shaped frame members to which a net is secured so as to form an arch shaped enclosure. Anchoring cables are attached to the frame members and the support surface so as to maintain the frame members in an upright position. The frame members are formed by a plurality of releasably coupled plastic pipes. The net includes a plurality of sleeves through which the frame members extend. The cage can be used either indoors or out of doors and maintains the environmental conditions on the interior of the enclosure. A floor mat permits the cage to be erected indoors without causing damage to the floor covering. The net is secured to the frame so as to hang loosely therefrom. The frame members are formed of material of such flexibility as to be laterally and longitudinally movable such that the impact energy of a ball hitting the net and/or frame members will be absorbed without substantial ricocheting of the ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An elongated portable batting cage erectable on a support surface having opposite ends whereat a batting station and a pitching station are respectively located, said cage comprising: an enlarged mat spreadable in covering relation over said support surface;   a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, arcuately shaped, resilient frame members having opposite ends engaging said mat;   securing means on said mat for holding each of said ends of said frame members in position on said mat;   anchoring means attached to said frame members and attachable to said support surface for maintaining said frame members in an upright position; and   a net secured to said frame members so as to hang loosely therefrom and form a normally substantially arch-shaped enclosure having opposite ends and opposite sides;   said frame members being laterally and longitudinally flexible such that said enclosure, upon impact by a ball, momentarily deforms to absorb the impact energy of said ball and thereby cause said ball to fall within said cage without substantial ricocheting, said enclosure automatically returning to said arch shape after the impact energy has been absorbed.   
     
     
       2. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein said securing means includes a plurality of pockets formed in said mat, each of said pockets being adapted to receive one of said ends of said frame members. 
     
     
       3. The batting cage of claim 2 further comprising a boot secured in each of said pockets for receiving one of said ends of said frame members. 
     
     
       4. The batting cage of claim 3 wherein each of said pockets includes means for opening and closing said pocket such that said boot is insertable into and removable from said pocket. 
     
     
       5. The batting cage of claim 4 wherein said means for opening and closing said pocket includes at least one elongated flap having opposite first and second ends, said first end being permanently secured to said mat and said second end being releasably secured to said mat, said flap extending over a portion of said boot when said second end is secured to said mat thereby securing said boot in said pocket. 
     
     
       6. The batting cage of claim 2 wherein said mat further includes a plate means in the bottom of each pocket for protecting said support surface from damage by said ends of said frame members. 
     
     
       7. The batting cage of claim 2 wherein said mat further includes a plurality of straps extending between said pockets for reinforcing said mat. 
     
     
       8. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein said frame members are arcuately shaped. 
     
     
       9. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein said frame members are flexible. 
     
     
       10. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein each of said frame members include a plurality of releasably coupled sections. 
     
     
       11. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein said anchoring means includes at least one elongated flexible cable means extending along the length of said batting cage and being secured to each of said frame members and being secured at opposite ends to said support surface at a point remote from the ends of said enclosure. 
     
     
       12. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein said anchoring means includes a pair of elongated flexible first cable members extending along opposite sides of said enclosure and an elongated flexible second cable member extending along the top of said enclosure, said first and second cable members having opposite ends secured to said support surface at a point remote from the sides of said enclosure, and said first and second cable members being secured to said frame members intermediate said opposite ends thereof. 
     
     
       13. The batting cage of claim 12 wherein said first and second cable members include a plurality of lengths of cable secured to said frame member in end-to-end relation. 
     
     
       14. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein said net includes a plurality of sleeves disposed therein and through which said frame members extend. 
     
     
       15. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein said net has apertures therein the diameter of which is sufficiently small to prevent a ball from passing therethrough and sufficiently large to maintain the exterior environment conditions on the interior of said enclosure. 
     
     
       16. The batting cage of claim 1 wherein a plurality of net clips secure said net to said anchoring means whereby the shape of said enclosure is maintained. 
     
     
       17. A method of assembling an elongated portable batting cage upon a support surface, said cage being formed by a normally substantially semi-cylindrical shaped enclosure having opposite ends whereat a batting station and a pitching station are respectively located, said cage comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart, arcuately shaped, resilient frame members having opposite ends; at least one elongated flexible cable means for anchoring said frame members on said support surface; and a net having a plurality of sleeves disposed therein, said method comprising: spreading an enlarged mt in covering relation over a support surface, said mat having opposite ends and opposite sides, and having a plurality of pockets formed therein along the length thereof and adjacent the opposite sides thereof;   inserting one of said frame members into each of said sleeves in said net such that the ends of said frame members protrude from said sleeve;   connecting said cable means to said plurality of frame members;   inserting the opposite ends of the first of said plurality of frame members into said pockets at one end of said mat and standing said first frame member into an upright position;   anchoring one end of said cable means to said support surface at a position remote from said first frame member;   sequentially inserting the opposite ends of each successive frame member into the respective pockets and standing said frame members into an upright position while maintaining tension on said cable means; and   anchoring the other end of said cable means to said support surface at a position remote from the last of said frame members.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 wherein the steps are reversed to disassemble said batting cage. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17 wherein said batting cage can be collapsed by releasing one end of said cable means from the anchored position and removing said frame members from said pockets. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19 wherein said collapsing further includes moving said frame members toward the opposite end of said cable means. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20 wherein said frame members are moved off of said mat and said mat is removed from said covering relation over said support surface. 
     
     
       22. An elongated, portable cage for ball sports comprising: a plurality of arcuately shaped frame members having opposite ends supported by a support surface;   a plurality of anchoring means attached directly to said frame members and attachable to said support surface for maintaining said frame members in an upright position;   a net secured to said frame members having excess material between said frame members so as to hang loosely therefrom and form an elongated arch-shaped enclosure having opposite sides and opposite ends; and   said frame members being laterally and longitudinally flexible and moveable substantially unrestricted by said net and said anchoring means such that said enclosure temporarily deforms upon impact by a ball so as to absorb the forces of impact and thereby cause said ball to fall within said enclosure without substantial ricocheting, said enclosure automatically returning to said arch shape after absorption of said forces.   
     
     
       23. The cage of claim 22 wherein each of said frame members has an apex and said opposite ends of each frame assembly diverge downwardly from said apex so that the ball is always deflected downwardly after impacting said frame members. 
     
     
       24. The cage of claim 22 wherein said opposite ends of said frame members are movable with respect to said support surface to allow said enclosure to absorb the impact energy of the ball. 
     
     
       25. The cage of claim 22 wherein said net includes a plurality of sleeves disposed therein and through which said frame members extend. 
     
     
       26. The cage of claim 25 wherein each of said frame members are movable within said sleeve to allow said enclosure to absorb the energy of impact of the ball. 
     
     
       27. The cage of claim 22 further comprising a plurality of boots having an open upper collar for receiving one end of one of said frame members and a bottom surface for frictionally securing said boot member to said support surface. 
     
     
       28. The cage of claim 27 wherein said ends of said frame members are received within said collar of said boots so as to be movable within said collar and thereby allow said enclosure to absorb the energy of impact of the ball. 
     
     
       29. The cage of claim 22 wherein said net is excessively large so as to have a perimeter portion which extends beyond the ends of said frame member and is loosely accumulatable on said support surface to allow said enclosure to absorb the impact energy of the ball. 
     
     
       30. The cage of claim 22 wherein said net is light and air permeable such that the inside of said enclosure is exposed to conditions existing on the outside of said enclosure without substantial interference by said net. 
     
     
       31. The cage of claim 22 further comprising an enlarged mat for covering the support surface, said mat having securing means thereon for holding each of the ends of said frame members in position on the mat such that said mat is positioned between said frame members and said support surface to prevent damage to the support surface. 
     
     
       32. The cage of claim 31 wherein said securing means includes a plurality of pockets formed in said mat, each of said pockets being adapted to receive one of said ends of said frame members.